DSACNJ News

LOCAL EVENTS, EDUCATION, NEWS and ADVOCACY

DSACNJ News

LOCAL EVENTS, EDUCATION, NEWS and ADVOCACY

January 3, 2016

Happy New Year Everyone!

Looking forward to a year full of enriching, exciting and fun filled gathering for the DSACNJ community. As you all know, DSACNJ is a nonprofit organization which strives to provide support, education, advocacy and enrichment opportunities to people with Down Syndrome and their loved ones. Nearly all of the events we provide throughout the year are free of charge to all our members. Please help us continue to provide the services we offer and expand our services as intended. Invite your friends, families, therapist, teachers, coaches and Join us at our annual fundraiser which also happens to be our biggest and best event of the year in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day!

IF YOU ARE PART OF OR HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH A BUSINESS WHICH MAY WISH TO SPONSOR OUR WOLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY EVENT PLEASE LET US KNOW SO THAT WE CAN FOWARD YOU A SPONSORSHIP FORM.

You can also help support the Down Syndrome Association of Central New Jersey by adding our group to your amazonsmile shopping settings on https://smile.amazon.com/.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

May 2016 be filled with health, happiness, and good fortune for all our families!

FACEBOOK GROUP STARTED

Please join our group

We are each others best resources! Lets make the most of it. We hope to have a collaborative interactive message board on Facebook where we can all share information, experiences, and ask each other questions or seek support. This should be a valuable means of communication among our members. Please request to join our Facebook group. Details will be following in an email.

DSACNJ EVENTS

REGISTER FOR ROCK YOUR SOCKS OFF 2016

ROCK YOUR SOCKS OFF DANCE-OFF CELEBRATING WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY

When

Saturday, March 12th, 1-4pm

Where

21 South Main Street

NJ

More information

JOIN US FOR THE SECOND ANNUAL ROCK YOUR SOCKS OFF EVENT AND FUNDRAISER.

THIS DANCE PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS WITHIN THEIR DAILY LIVES AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

A LOOK AHEAD

Events in the works

Over the next several weeks we will be finalizing details for some upcoming events. Currently in the works are planning for the following. We will update you will details in the near future!

Plans for future educational events?

Financial Planning for children with Special Needs

Question and Answer Forum with Down Syndrome Expert

Mindfulness and Stress Reduction for Caregivers

Plans for Social gatherings?

Moms Night out

Dads Night Out

Toddler Time at Motion Gymnastics

Teen Night Out

On the Medical Advocacy Front

Reaching out to the medical community

We have been working hard to improve the medical communities awareness of the guidelines on the delivery of the diagnosis of Down Syndrome during the prenatal or postnatal period in a sensitive manner and with clear, accurate, unbiased information. We are also working to ensure that all patients are referred to a Support Group such as the Down Syndrome Association of Central New Jersey at the time of diagnosis.

We plan to attend a regional obstetric conference in the spring to spread the word. We also plan to do a mailing of information packets including the guidelines on the delivery of diagnosis, support information, information about options such as adoption, and a First call Program information sheet to all obstetric Hospitals in the state as well as obstetric groups. The First Call program is a release form that physicians can have the patient sign to allow us to call them and support them at the vulnerable time following the receipt of the diagnosis. We hope this effort will improve new parents early integration into a support group where they can receive the most accurate information about what they can expect with regards to raising a child with Down Syndrome.

Our message is critical especially with the widespread availability of non-invasive prenatal testing for trisomy 21. The Down Syndrome Association has received a grant to focus on these efforts.

ADDED PERK FOR OUR MEMBERS

Discount to Great Wolf Lodge for DSACNJ members

Just in time for the winter holiday season DSACNJ has a special offer from Great WolfLodge. 20% off lowest rates for all our members. Use the Corporate Code: DOWN086A

Upon check-in if requested a copy of our newsletter is sufficient for proof of membership.

OTHER EVENTS

Disabilities Allies Events

Kids Team Builder, Bowling and Mountaineer Day approaching

Bowling Team Builders (ages 15 and older)

(January 9th and January 23rd)

You must register for our Bowling Team Builder's event if you are interested in being a mentor or participant by following the link below. Register for one or both!! You can also follow the links to find out more information. (*Important- If you are trying to register on a work computer or on a cellphone the registration may be blocked. Please try registering from a computer in your home.)

Bowling Team Builders will take place on both days from 10am to 1:15pm at Majestic Lanes Bowling Alley and is for young adults.

The address of the event is 525 Us Highway 9 N, Hopelawn, NJ 08861-1551. Hopelawn is just south of Woodbridge. Meet us at the party room when you arrive. The event is completely accessible. You can park at the Bowling Alley for Free. Click on the link below to register and for information.

Team Builders for kids (ages 6 and up - Also looking for Young Adult Mentors)

January 10th, January 24th, Feb 7th, Feb 21st and March 6th

You must register for Team Builders for Kids if you are interested in being a mentor or a participant by following the link below. You can also follow the link to find out more information. (*Important- If you are trying to register on a work computer or on a cellphone the registration may be blocked. Please try registering from a computer in your home.)

The program will last for five sessions. You don’t have to sign up for all the sessions if you don’t want to. It will occur on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. The Dates are January 10th, January 24th, Feb 7th, Feb 21st and March 6th.

There are three different programs depending on your age group

1. 6-8 years old will meet from 10:30am to 11:30am

2. 9-11 years old will meet from 11:30am to 12:30pm

3. 12-15 years old will meet from 12:30pm to 1:30pm

We are also looking for young adult mentors aged 16 and over.

We will be meeting at the front of the East Brunswick Jewish Center. The address of the event is 615 George Street New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1176. We have an indoor facility that we will be doing out events in.

The purpose of this program is to help children with their social skills and engage them in teambuilding activities. Each child will be paired with a mentor.

Mountaineers Care Day will take place on Friday, May 6th 2016 from 11:30am to 2pm at West Orange High School. The address of the event is 51 Conforti Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052. The event is completely accessible. You can park at the high School for free. We will still be having our mentoring panel it will start 1:30pm.

You must register for Mountaineers Care Day by following the link below. You also must register for our mentoring panel. You can also follow the link to find out more information.

Upcoming Events at Sensational Kids

Social Skills

Starting Monday, January 25th

3-6 year olds: Mondays 4:30-5:30pm

Is your child struggling to make or keep friends? Our social skills play groups are lots of fun. Children love our sensory-motor gym and learn to make friends during cooperative projects, sensory activities, board games and music. Sessions improve the ability to perform as part of a group, share, take turns, attend and learning to cope with challenges and disappointment. Children learn how to be a friend as well as make friends, control impulses and handle frustration. We provide weekly parent carry-over and consult with parents on managing behavior at home.

Tween Social Skills Group

Starting Monday, January 25th

7-13 year olds: Mondays 6:00-7:00pm

This social skills group is different from others because it will have a focus on developing socials skills essential for the tween aged child preparing to enter the middle school or high school world. This group is for kids who typically have difficulty making friends or reading social cues. It will incorporate technology that appeals to the 10-14 year old age group such as the Wii, iPad and social media sites, which have become part of daily social interactions amongst this age group. Lessons will be interactive, child-directed and differentiated to the needs of all group members. Themes will incorporate trending topics and interests of this peer group and will be developed through child and parent insight and feedback. Home recommendations will be made after each week.

Be sure to like us on Facebook for therapist tips and Sensational Kids events

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Support Group for Parents of Children with Special Medical Needs

Bayada Pediatrics Host Support Group

Monthly support group for parents of children with special medical needs, on Thursday, January 21 at our office at 521 Fellowship Road, Suite 160, in Mt. Laurel.

From 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, parents of children with special needs are able to talk about their children, relate to each other, and exchange resources. Whether it's medical or emotional support that's needed, we do our best to provide it.

Connect with other parents who understand at Parent Night. You can share your stories, experiences, successes, and obstacles in an informal, caring environment. Share as much or as little as you feel comfortable. The monthly support group is free and open to parents of children of all ages with a wide range of diagnoses and medical needs such as trach, vent, CP, seizure disorders, g-tubes, cardiac issues, metabolic disease, muscular dystrophy, congenital anomalies, COPD, BPD, Down Syndrome and TBI, to name just a few.

THE MEALTIME JOURNEY

Michelle Davis-Korngut, MS OTR/L and Meghan Quan, an experienced feeding therapist from Pediatric Therapy Solutions, LLC will be co-hosting a parent series titled

"The Mealtime Journey"

Thursday, Jan 14, 2016 7-8PM: First Foods!

Thursday, Feb 11, 2016 7-8PM: Toddler Mealtime

Thursday, March 10, 2016 7-8PM: Anxious Mealtimes

Does your child…

· refuse to eat or drink?

have poor weight gain?

eat a limited variety of food?

avoid certain food groups or unable to transition from foods of different textures?

display disruptive mealtime behaviors?

have foods they once loved to eat, but refuses them now?

have difficulty chewing and/or swallowing different food?

refuse nipple and/or gags with insertion of bottle?

gag, cough, or vomit while eating?

depend on nasogastric or gastrostomy tube feedings?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, your child may benefit from feeding therapy and this lecture series.

PHYSICIANS GET A REVIEW OF THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Guidance for Doctors on Special education

in the journal Pediatrics last month, the American Academy of Pediatrics says that doctors have a significant role to play in ensuring that children with disabilities get the services they need from schools.

The report reviews the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, detailing school districts' responsibilities to provide help for young children through the transition to adulthood.

SEEKING BOARD MEMBERS

Interested in serving on our board?

Our board is looking for additional members to help with fundraising, event planning, social media and medical advocacy. Interested in serving on a committee or working with us on an ongoing or intermittent basis? Please email dsacnj@arcmercer.org

SEEKING self advocates for our board

Teens and adults with Down Syndrome and Emerging Leadership Skills See below

Teens or adults with Down Syndrome we value your input. If interested in working with us to create opportunities and events for your peers and advocate for yourself and others, please contact us. We will ask you to attend meetings periodically when able and communicate with us on an ongoing basis about ideas and progress. When available we may have you join us at events and conferences on occasion.

DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL NEW JERSEY

The Down Syndrome Association of Central New Jersey (DSACNJ) is a non-profit parent support group, established to assist families of children and adults with Down Syndrome as a point of contact, support, up to date information and fun and enriching social gatherings. We celebrate the lives of our children and encourage them to reach their full potential.